The University of the Philippines women’s volleyball team expressed their utmost gratitude to the UP community, who continues to fight for them amid the ‘mismanagement’ issue that hampered the team’s ongoing campaign in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
“Kami, we fought for our rights and we are thankful to the coaches, the UP community, and everyone who is fighting for us,” said UP senior Abi Goc just moments after the Fighting Maroons scored their first win in the tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Just before their second game against De La Salle University, allegations of mismanagement towards manager Angela Villamil surfaced after the Fighting Maroons’ four-page letter addressed to then UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo reached social media.
The team listed numerous issues such as delayed and reduced monthly allowances; unsettled dormitory balance; lack of academic support; poor and mishandled COVID-19 exposure quarantine, and treatment response; poor injury coordination and treatment; neglected need for new sports equipment; mismanagement and team manager’s bad attitude; and issues with funds, sponsorship, and coach’s salaries.
This prompted the Fighting Maroons to request the reinstatement of the Nowhere to Go but UP Foundation (NTGBUP) as their main handler.
The request was eventually denied but the ntgbUP board decided to pass a resolution to provide the Fighting Maroons with funds that can help them address their concerns.
Despite the issues currently surrounding the team, UP was all business when they took on University of the East. They overcame a slow start en route to a 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20 win that allowed them to tie Far Eastern University in sixth place with identical 1-2 records.
“Yun po, sobrang thankful po kasi po yung UP community po never po nila kami iniwan. As a senior po and five years in UP, sobrang sarap na ipaglaban yung university para sa community,” said Goc, who provided a spark off the bench with nine points.
“Salamat po sa lahat ng sumuporta at sumusuporta pa rin po sa team namin, men’s and women’s po, we are thankful. Support all sports po syempre,” she added.
Nina Ytang provided the Fighting Maroons a big lift against the Red Warriors. And she said that it’s just normal for a team to go through challenges in the middle of the season.
But for her, what separates this team is their ability to stand by each other amid rough times.
“Yun nga, yung comment ko rin po doon sa chaos sa team namin is siguro normal naman po talaga sa kahit na sinong team sa UAAP na magkaroon ng mga kani-kanilang problema. Kami as a normal lang na team lang din sa UAAP, nagkakaroon lang din kami ng problema namin sa team, sa ibang mga bagay bagay and thankful din kami para sa isa’t isa,” said Ytang, who had a game-high 20 points on 12 attacks, seven blocks, and an ace.
“Mga teammates namin, mga ates ko, nandiyan sila para i-guide kaming mga bata and yun po, yun lang din yung masasabi ko na thankful ako kasi hindi kami nagpa-apekto sa mga nangyayari sa amin.”
